Monthly Archives: July 2021

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

How do we come to God?

CHURCH BEGINS AT 10:30 THIS SUNDAY!
Dear Friends,

This week our service will begin at the new time of 10:30 a.m.  Those who don’t wish to gather in person can join us on Zoom.

Use this link to join this Sunday on Zoom at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

This week’s Old Testament reading tells of the cataclysmic outcome of David’s adultery with Bathsheba.  My sermon will continue where Mark Crawford left off last week, so if you missed it please watch the link below.

I will be asking the question of how we deal with the results of disastrous decisions, how do we come back from that terrible action, or those terrible words that should never have been said?   How does God use the Church to bring reconciliation, forgiveness, and a new start, while still holding us accountable for our actions? These are difficult questions, but ultimately we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and we are offered forgiveness and new life.

Our scripture readings for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity will be from 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13, Ephesians 4:1-16, and John 6:24-35, and we will be singing the hymns Immortal Invisible God only Wise, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Here is Love, and Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Last Sunday’s Sermon and Readings
Or the Full Worship Service can be viewed here!

Mark preaching last Sunday!

10:30 a.m. start – this Sunday!

After much debate and soul-searching we have finally been able to find a compromise starting time!  From August 1st our morning worship will begin at 10:30 a.m. (Don’t worry if you forget – you’ll just be there early!)

Prayer Meeting

We would like to pray more.  Helga is a great woman of prayer and we have other pray-ers in All Saints.  We are thinking of starting a weekly prayer meeting – initially on Zoom.

If you are interested please contact me or Helga and let us know when would be a good time for you.  We are thinking of 9 a.m. one morning, but this isn’t fixed.

Upcoming Events!

We have had many exciting events planned, including a weekend in Chiang Dao, a potluck on August 1st, and the beginning of small house groups!  However, given the current situation, it seems wise not to have a potluck this week.

Because of the pandemic we can’t give a definite go-ahead yet for other events!  Watch this space for more news! The outbreak numbers in Chiang Mai seem to hovering around sixty cases, but we are watching the data carefully!!

Wednesday Lunch
We will not meet for lunch at The Gymkhana Club next Wednesday due to the pandemic.  Hopefully, this event will resume soon.

Weekly Offering to All Saints
You can still donate in person or online.  Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together.  God has shown that he is mighty and we are in his hands!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Help needed at YCF

IN CHURCH AGAIN AT 10 AM
(10:30 a.m. from 1st August)
Dear Friends,

We will again gather for worship in the church and on Zoom this Sunday at 10 a.m.  We have much to be thankful for – even in the midst of this pandemic.

Use this link to join this Sunday on Zoom at 10 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

But we also have a call to service!  Mark, Chris, and I, went up to the Youth Charity Foundation on Wednesday for a meeting with the director, Khun Tasnee. We were expecting a general discussion about how All Saints and YCF could develop our work together in the future, but we found a more immediate need.

Leading Worship

The children’s schools are teaching online until at least the end of September and, until last week, YCF had two computers for over forty children.  They have been given four more, and four more are promised, but that is still not many machines for so many users.

In addition, there are only two staff members who can help the children with their lessons and who need to try to cover ten grades and numerous subjects!

They need our help!

Working in the rice fields last week!

There are three practical things that All Saints’ members and friends can do:

1)  If you have any old computers, laptops, or tablets, please consider donating or lending them to YCF.

2)  Can you teach English, or some other subject, or speak Thai?  Teachers are needed, but also just people who can help the younger children stay focused on their work and understand what they have to do.  We hope to find a way for people to travel to YCF each day to help.  If you can offer one day, or part of a day, that would be amazing.

3)  Financial support.  YCF had paid in advance for the children’s school lunches.  Now that there is no school, there are no lunches and the money has not been refunded.  They are now having to find money for three meals a day instead of two.  Any contributions would be gratefully received.

More information to follow!

Our scripture readings for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity will be from 2 Samuel 11:1-15, 2 Kings 4:42-44, and John 6:1-21, and we will be singing the hymns Alleluia Sing to Jesus, Break Thou the Bread of Life, One Bread One Body, and Lift High the Cross!  Our Congregational Pastor, Rev. Mark Crawford, will be preaching.

Last Sunday’s Sermon and Readings
Or the Full Worship Service can be viewed here!

Hannah preaching last Sunday!

10:30 a.m. start from 1st August

After much debate and soul-searching we have finally been able to find a compromise starting time!  From August 1st our morning worship will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Events!

Chiang Dao Mountain
We have many exciting events planned, including a weekend in Chiang Dao, a potluck on August 1st, and the beginning of small house groups!

But, because of the pandemic we can’t give a definite go-ahead yet!  Watch this space for more news! The outbreak numbers in Chiang Mai seem to have been dropping slowly for the past week, but we are watching the data carefully!!

(Graph from Chiang Mai News in English)

Wednesday Lunch
We will not meet for lunch at The Gymkhana Club next Wednesday due to the pandemic.  Hopefully, this event will resume soon.

Weekly Offering to All Saints
You can still donate in person or online.  Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together.  God has shown that he is mighty and we are in his hands!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

IN CHURCH AGAIN AT 10 AM
(10:30 a.m. from 1st August)
Dear Friends,

We are back in pandemic mode – or on the edge of it!  Face to face worship will continue at All Saints this week, but we are advising particularly vulnerable people to stay at home and join us on Zoom.  We will again meet with fans running and the doors open!

The level of corona virus infection has again been rising in Chiang Mai, and we need to be cautious.

This week’s scripture passages focus on God as our shepherd, and Hannah Alexander-Herrick will be preaching on this topic this Sunday.

Perhaps you have reflected on verse 4 of the Twenty-third Psalm, and feel that we are constantly walking “through the valley of the shadow of death”!  But we can remember the second half of the verse, that God is with us, and God’s rod and staff are there to comfort us! These continue to be trying and unpredictable times, and we need to trust in God more than ever.

Use this link to join this Sunday on Zoom at 10 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Our scripture readings for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity will be from 2 Samuel 7:1-14a, Ephesians 2:11-22, and Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, and we will be singing the hymns The Lord’s My Shepherd, I will Trust in You, Mothering God, and The King of Love My Shepherd Is!

While many of us are more confined to home than usual, there is the opportunity to watch both last week’s sermon and that of Helga Spring from the 20th June!

Last Sunday’s Sermon and Readings

Sermon and Highlights from 20th June

10:30 a.m. start from 1st August

After much debate and soul-searching we have finally been able to find a compromise starting time!  From August 1st our morning worship will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Upcoming Events!

We have many exciting events planned, including a weekend in Chiang Dao, a potluck on August 1st, and the beginning of small house groups! But, because of the pandemic we can’t give a definite go-ahead yet!  Watch this space for more news!

Wednesday Lunch
We will not meet for lunch at The Gymkhana Club next Wednesday due to the pandemic.  Hopefully, this event will resume soon.

Weekly Offering to All Saints
You can still donate in person or online.  Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together.  God has shown that he is mighty and we are in his hands!

God bless,

Father Iain

From Father Iain, All Saints Chiang Mai

Last Sunday’s Potluck

IN CHURCH AGAIN AT 10 AM
(10:30 a.m. from 1st August)

Dear Friends,

In this week’s New Testament reading, Paul writes of our adoption as God’s children.  He talks of redemption, forgiveness, adoption, and inheritance.  It is a thing of blessing. Last Saturday night’s event at the Youth Charity Foundation reminded me how important it is to belong – to be part of a family!  That doesn’t need to be a blood family, but we all need to belong to someone and have someone we belong to!

We will explore more of this at All Saints this Sunday!

Use this link to join this Sunday on Zoom at 10 a.m.
Meeting ID: 548 801 501

Our scripture readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity will be from Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 1:3-14, and Mark 6:14-29, and we will be singing the hymns A Mighty Fortress, Amazing Grace, And Can it be, and Born in Song!

Last Sunday’s service can be seen here!

10:30 a.m. start from 1st August

After much debate and soul-searching we have finally been able to find a compromise starting time!  From August 1st our morning worship will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Dedication at the Youth Charity Foundation

Last Saturday there was a special event at House of Grace to dedicate their new building.  The event began with a worship service at 5 p.m. which was followed by dinner. 

I was invited to give the opening prayer – though the rest of the service was in Thai!

Two of our choir members, Mint and Yoke, led the hymns.

We were welcomed by Khun Tasnee.

And all the children took part.

Last Sunday’s Potluck

Thanks to Arthur and Phyllis and all who helped with the excellent Potluck at the MCC Office Compound.  This will probably be the last potluck held there, as the office is expanding and they are losing storage space. Many thanks to Rebecca, Blaine, Arthur, and Phyllis, who have hosted potlucks and the Christmas Lunch during the pandemic.  Without you these would not have been possible!

Our next potluck will probably be at the new vicarage on 1st August!

Moving House

A big thank you to Mark, Gene, Arthur, Katie, and Karen, who came to help me move in to my new house.  And special thanks to Clarice’s son, Jonathan, who sent ten men and four vans to enable the move – we couldn’t have done it without them!

Some of Jon’s merry men getting a wardrobe up the stairs!

Katie and Karen taking the fridge upstairs.  Women are doing for themselves – apparently!

Looking heavenward in the kitchen!

Wednesday Lunch

All being well, our weekly lunch at the Gymkhana Club will continue next Wednesday at midday under the trees.  You don’t have to be a member and all are welcome!

 Weekly Offering to All Saints
You can still donate in person or online.  Thank you for your support and love for All Saints and all we are trying to do together.  God has shown that he is mighty and we are in his hands!

God bless,

Father Iain